Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-24
ALEXANDER R. SHEPHERD.
The Man who Redeemed and Beautifed
Washington.
AND CAME OUT Of OFFICE A POOR
MAN.
His EventfuI and Energetic Career-s.A
Steam Engine in Breeches''-A sturdy.
IEard.working BOy-A Brave soldier
4 Brainy and FOrceful Executive
Officer.

Ex-Gov. Alexander r. Shepherd was born Janu-
AIRY 81 1888 in this city, on Mdryla avenue, TWO
doors west OF Eth street. He was the eldest OF
the seven children OF Alexander shepherd and
Susan D. Robey, who We're married al the farm OF
T. Il. RObey, at the Forest" Charles County, Ma
ryland, IN the year 1854 Both the parents were
natives OF the same county OF Maryland, the father
having been born and reared at the old homestead
on "Wade's Bay" an estuary OF the Potomac River,
opposite Acquia Greek, Virginia The ancestors OF
both were EngIsh and ProteStants- having eingfat-
Ell America IN the latter part OF the eighteenth
century and settled on the respective plantations
which are stin held by their descendants. Inc
great-unCle Frank Shepherd, was an OilCtr on Ille
OriyaIeer Bon HOmIne Richard when COMMANDED
Dy Paul Jones. during thc wsir OF the heYOlutiOh:
Alexander shepherd, the Iather OF the subject OF
this sketch came 10 Washington about the year
ls:s2 and by his Industry, energy ana application
soon acGu!red a fine business reputation, ana was
for mani years Tue leading lumber merchant OF
the Di,tr CT. lie was Tor N my years asSoeIated
with John G. Hardness and John Purify, occupy
Ing the site OF the present Center Market. Ills
health failing he bought country seat hsn 81
Paul's church (hOcA creek Parish,l and Died there
June l, lS45, aged forty-twO years HIS estate
which was moderate one, was Dadly
managed and squandered By executors III
Charge and two years after his death
his widow and children moved back TO Washing
ton where they lived al No. ii0 9th street. until
Mrs. shepherd supported her family by her own
exertions, and Alexander, the future governor OF
the District. who had been. for three years, d
scholar at the RittenhouSe Academy, Aept by the
RevS. ChaS. aud Jos. NOurSe, Was Sent 70 tue pie-
paratory department OF Co,umb ia Coiifgt, u i
the care or ProIS. 1Opey and Picket. W nPn lhlf-
teen years Old IL became necessary Tor Alex 10
earn his own living, and he worked Tor Two years
as store boy; and when fifteen concluded 10 Try a
trade, and became carpenters apprentice. lie
worked TWO years AT this, when, becoming ulaeit
isted with his employer, he leit Ia APFii. lo,','
at the instance OF his pastor, Rev. JHC { siit IL,
he entered the establishment or j. W. thompson,
who had opened plumbing anu gashttlilg CON
cernfn Washington. Here ne remained, becoming
partner in 1853, ana suboctlu PulCh">ius
the concern in lS66- -
on the 3Oth OF January, 1897, he was married TO
Mary Griee Young, daughter OF Col W. r. 1ouils,
formerly OF Norfolk, Va, soldier OF 1Sl, aad Ior
many years employed IN the GtheTdl foot-oiiiCe
at Washington. From this marriage "a IiosC
happy one) ten children We're born, seven oi whom
are living
SHEPHERD AS A SOLDIER
When the war broke out there was division OF
sentiment among the people or washington, Sltu-
ated. as IL was between the North and the south.
This was evidenced BIZ the action OF some OF the
military companies. which, when called on 70 en-
list, refused and disbanded. The National ttlfleS,
then the crack company OF Washington, lost Two
thirds OF It's members. Their places We're filed by
Union men, and among them were Alex. X. and
Thos. NJ. shepherd, his brother. The command
was given 10 gallant ofnctr.tapt Jno H. shleeo.
who lost his lie at the second battle OF
Bull Run. There was an unniiotaEable posi-
Iiveness about the loyalty or Alexander r.
Shepherd which gave MIN At once COIlliailu-
Ing influence. The history of the National Rifles
during the three months service Is well known.
The company was mustered IN ON April. 1851 III
was the fortune or this company during It's snort
term or enlistment TO render vaIuIbe service 10
the Government. IL a detachment OF the
National Rifles that opened road by way or
Annapolis and brought ii the first troops after
the Baltimore riots Sergeant j. [. McMadn was
in charge OF the first trains brought In Alexander
r. SnepuerdS pos was the engine. where Capt.
Smecd placed ninl with Instructions 20 shoot the
engineer Il ..ne cuts up any capefS-" He stood al
his post for forty-elgnt hours before he was re-
lieved- The engineer. with that steady eye upon
him did not 'cut any captrS-" Inc National
Rifles performed much duty about the capital city
IA time when the Federal Gov -rliLent was In
sore need, ana had the distinction OF being the
FIRST 10 cross the Potomac when the advance
was ordered. Aver the company was mustered
out many OF its members re-enllSted in OF her or
ganiZatiOnS and many WHO were Mr.. Shepherds
comrades In arms attained distinction in various
calnngs, and are Killing positions OF prominence.
After this experience OF Wal, MI shepherd having
given attention 10 national and municipal politics,
was one OF thOSe who perfected The organization
II this city OF the ''uncondltlOnai party, whose
platform demanded a ''union without an II or a
but" In June, after the National Rifles were mus
Tered out this party elected the city council and
hall OF Inc board aldermen. the remainder or the
board being composed OF members VINO held over.
shepherd. who Rad already becOma recognized as a
leader among men, Was elected president OF the
council and mis- administration or the Office was
marked by the eylde he gave or intense and I'M
swerv1ng loyalty al a time wner strong men Wa
yered. his earnest endeayOr u set aiOo; IL scheme
OF Improvement which would redeem The city from
It's ueplOrdDie condition, and his opposition mo-
DoDOIy When, NJ the end Of MS term, in June
1868 . new election was held, Shepherd was Og-
posed and defeated for alderman or the !hrd ward
by Jos +. Brow Il secretary or tie ga, company OF
Washington, the employees o. the company having
iarge vote, whlch. IL IS c-alInrd, played
An IMPORTANT part iii the election v AateVer view
shepherd took OF IL then the future showed that
this defeat was undoubtedly fortunate thing Tor
him. He determined 70 devote himself thereafter
exclusively 10 his private business until he mad
secuted u competency. when he hoped to make a
Capital city. Tor six years he held no other Of
nee except that or member OF the Levy Court"
which had control or the county OF Washington
or all that part the District outside or the cor
porate limits OF Washington and GeOrgel own
There at that tiIilc Il corporation o; Washing
ton, with the usual corporation officers elected
corporation or Georgetown having the same form
OF government and the Levy Court, cornp0S q OF
seven members appointed by the President. Mr.
Shepherd served member or tni5 court for
three years. 80, before he was called TO Inc head
OF affairs IN the District Mr.. shepherd, though q
experience II! municipal matters, besides having
demonstrated his rare executive genius BIZ the
successful prosecution OF very extensive private
business
THE OLD WASHINGTON
One who has known Washington onIy IS the
beautiful capital oi recent years, since the DAYS
OF the Board OF Public WORKS. cannot realize the
depiOraOle condition OF the District In ISaSs and
1869 IL was 80 wretched tlaJ there wae a strong
and earnest movement 10 reclaim IT. SUPPORTED by
ali Who had the welfare and prypetuItv ~ The cap
ltal AZ heart. The condition OF Tae city wa u,l.
even more manifest O-ct~- or the splendid Of tu,.
plan upon which IL Was constructed Magnificent
distances and wide avenues stretched out only 10
reveal streets OF clay. ILnptssab.e on account OF
mud IN winter and unouppOrtaDle for dust at other
seaSonS-otFeetS OF which any weli-rrCuiateu HAM
let would De ashamed A ieIS OF the main
fares were roughly paved with cOoOle-5toIes a nd
the side streets were mere dirt roads. In which
pigs, goats. cattle, ana geese TOLIued uEiuo-
Tested. scattering the Htt.e mounds UI garDI,e
dumped into the street by the houseIIolI.f,.
The only drainage was by surface cutters over
grown Win weeds and grass and uled with green
scunIaed slime and NTH These cutters, roughly
paved with CODDr-st0neS, crossed the street, in
irregular Tut> and dcpreSololS that caused every
vehicle 10 come 10 HIATT IN passing over them
With these nlIly cutters and the stinkIny opeu
CesSpOOl Called the canal, the receptacle OK dead
cats, rotten eZS, and garbage or al sorts il WAS
Impossible 10 move n any direction Without Keep
Ing the hand 10 the nose.
Tine District then mad an annual revenue OF
about ball a million dollars. raised as a general
tax, and licenses ana other sources OF revenue
brought the income up 10 about 100000 Al thar
time al special Improvements were paid Tor by
the property AUDITING upon the streets Improved
and out or the general euUeS- The city " a.
neglected and the revenue WAS wasted On sneel-
ers,~ strikers and ward contractors, AZ tnaI
time TOO, city niled with Vast numbers OF
freedmen brought here by the ar Ilany OF y:noin
unused 20 freedom. committed excuses which DID
much injury 10 the reputation OF the city.
The CAPITAL-AOvISG SCHEME.
When one recalls the condition OF affairs at this
tine, IL - DO longer a matter OF wonder that The
movement then begun 10 secure tie removal OF the
capital 10 more central location III the West
less exposed 20 Invasion and other RISKS. should
have met Win FAVOR such u movement had been